HISTORY OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF JEFFERSONVILLE
The congregation was organized in the school house in 1861 by David D. Miller an evangelist. Bro. Jasper BRANCH was the first Elder and Bros. Newton P. BRANCH and Samuel F. ARDERY the deascons. The organization remained at the school house until 1871 when they built the church house and named it the Christian church, known previously as Church of Christ. John A. WILLIAMS was an early preacher here. In 1884 trustees of the church were Bros. Wat BESTOW and James ROCHELLE.
(History of the First Christian Church of Jeffersonville, Wayne Co, Illinois, ca 1966) In 1879 J. Rochelle and A.R.McDannell, trustees of the First Christian Church of Jeffersonvill, paid Wayne Co Sheriff A. Rinard $88.30 as net proceeds of a festival held in the Jasper Branch warehouse on New Years' Eve. (note: the church was about to be foreclosed on) At that time a wall ran down the middle of the church between the pews with no doors between. The men went in the west door and the women in the east. No man ever ventured to the east side nor vice versa. The heating system consisted of 2 pot-bellied stoves located 2/3 of the way towards the front of the auditorium. They burned coal, stored in a coalhouse located out back. The baptistry was made of iron measuring 8x4x6 foot. Steps led into the baptistry from a classroom/changing room on the west side. In the winter water was heated in big tubs on the pot-bellied stoves and then poured into the tub. The baptistry rusted out, was removed and never replaced. Just the word "disorderly" was sufficient to dismiss a member from fellowship and the church resorted to trials to bring the guilty to repentance.
Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio
October 21, 1875
Mr. Jasper Branch and wife, both former citizens of this county, and who
were each about 77 years of age, recently died in Wayne county, Ill.
(note: Jasper, the oldest son of Josiah Branch and his first wife, was a cousin of the Rev. Sam'l S. Branch of Jeffersonville.)
HISTORY OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF JEFFERSONVILLE
The congregation was organized in the school house in 1861 by David D. Miller an evangelist. Bro. Jasper BRANCH was the first Elder and Bros. Newton P. BRANCH and Samuel F. ARDERY the deascons. The organization remained at the school house until 1871 when they built the church house and named it the Christian church, known previously as Church of Christ. John A. WILLIAMS was an early preacher here. In 1884 trustees of the church were Bros. Wat BESTOW and James ROCHELLE.
(History of the First Christian Church of Jeffersonville, Wayne Co, Illinois, ca 1966) In 1879 J. Rochelle and A.R.McDannell, trustees of the First Christian Church of Jeffersonvill, paid Wayne Co Sheriff A. Rinard $88.30 as net proceeds of a festival held in the Jasper Branch warehouse on New Years' Eve. (note: the church was about to be foreclosed on) At that time a wall ran down the middle of the church between the pews with no doors between. The men went in the west door and the women in the east. No man ever ventured to the east side nor vice versa. The heating system consisted of 2 pot-bellied stoves located 2/3 of the way towards the front of the auditorium. They burned coal, stored in a coalhouse located out back. The baptistry was made of iron measuring 8x4x6 foot. Steps led into the baptistry from a classroom/changing room on the west side. In the winter water was heated in big tubs on the pot-bellied stoves and then poured into the tub. The baptistry rusted out, was removed and never replaced. Just the word "disorderly" was sufficient to dismiss a member from fellowship and the church resorted to trials to bring the guilty to repentance.
Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio
October 21, 1875
Mr. Jasper Branch and wife, both former citizens of this county, and who
were each about 77 years of age, recently died in Wayne county, Ill.
(note: Jasper, the oldest son of Josiah Branch and his first wife, was a cousin of the Rev. Sam'l S. Branch of Jeffersonville.)
Inscription
Volunteer A. Kemp reported there was Grand Army of the Republic metal emblem on Jasper's grave back in 70's.
(The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, Marines and Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War)
Family Members
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